NFL Preseason Betting Preview: St. Louis Rams vs. New England Patriots

The Rams found a way to beat Mother Nature and the Cleveland Browns last week on the road, as they took down their foes 19-17. However, the preseason has still been rough on QB Sam Bradford. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft has only thrown for 81 yards on 12-of-27 passing with no TDs and no picks. The rest of the team hasn’t been anything special either though, as Keith Null, AJ Feeley, and Thaddeus Lewis have only combined to throw for 186 yards with a TD. Feeley’s touchdown pass to TE Daniel Fells last week marked the team’s only offensive score of the preseason. Feeley won’t be playing this week with injuries to his thumb and elbow, meaning Bradford is going to make his first professional start. This could be a daunting task for the youngster, as St. Louis is clearly going into this one at Gillette Stadium with hopes of survival against one of the best teams in the NFL. The defense is going to be getting its toughest task of the preseason as well, as at least two full quarters with QB Tom Brady under center is going to be difficult to hold to less than three scores.

Meanwhile, with 27.5 points per game scored, the Brady Bunch certainly have gotten off to a fantastic start to the preseason. The offense has come up with seven TDs in two games, most of which have come from the first and second team offenses. Brady is completing 75.0 percent of his passes for 152 yards with a TD in two exhibitions, while four different running backs have found pay dirt. Though none have rushed for more than 54 yards on the preseason, HC Bill Belichick is proving that he has an incredibly deep crop of backs to turn around and hand the pigskin to, as six players have at least six carries. Keep a close eye on both WR Julian Edelman and TE Aaron Hernandez as well. Edelman, a man who is still fighting for playing time, has had seven catches for 98 yards in two preseason betting battles, while Hernandez, also fighting for some starting time at a weak tight end position, has excelled in his exhibitions, catching seven passes for 72 yards and a TD. The other rookie tight end, Rob Gronkowski also has a TD reception as a part of his four catches and 38 yards.

If New England wants to win this game, it will do so and do so in a major way. Brady and the first team might not be stopped, and there might be three or four TDs on the board before the dogs start getting called off. Still, Belichick has never been known to take his foot off the gas pedal, as demonstrated by last season’s 57 point romp over the Tennessee Titans. Even though this is an exhibition, it might not be an exception.